Selvage Blog - Get some coffee or tea and let's visit.
Visit www.Tambani.co.za April 30, 2008
You will be hearing more about this project but I wanted you to know right away about Tambani Textiles & Gifts in South Africa. At this beautiful and fascinating site you can learn about the Venda women who support themselves and their children by making embroidered designs based on folk tales handed down from generation to generation. They live in very harsh conditions, but with hard work they are earning money to buy food and clothing. This vendor will be at the AQS show in Des Moines, Iowa in October.
I bought some of these embroideries at the AQS Quilt Show last week in Paducah. My favorite is the baobab tree that you can see on the right, made and signed by Lydia. I bought six others, and I'm mulling over the possibilities for arranging them into a quilt. Take a look at their embroidery at www.tambani.co.za.
Selvage Quilts by Kathleen Loomis! April 30, 2008
Visit this link to see some amazing selvage quilts by Kathleen Loomis: http://www.carnegiecenter.org/exhibit_AtoZ.html. I am so impressed! I love the one called "Black I." Thank you to quilter Jane Dunham for sending me this link.
Today is my birthday! April 29, 2008
Usually it's little kids who make such an announcement. But I like birthdays. I'm 55 today. Life is good:)
www.SelvageBlog.blogspot.com April 28, 2008
This page will be replaced shortly by a real blog. You will get to it the same way you got to this one, or you can go directly to: www.selvageblog.blogspot.com. This will handle photos better, (yayyy!) provide a way for you to post comments (it's easy), and it will have "Archives" so it will be searchable.
Let me know what you think. I'm still climbing that learning curve!
AQS Quilt Show in Paducah, KY April 27, 2008
I just got home from the Quilt Show. My sister Eileen and I had a wonderful time. I had so much fun meeting many of you! The quilts were amazing, and the vendors had lots of stuff that we "needed."
The Selvage book was selling like hotcakes. Many times I heard someone say, "I've been saving my selvages for years and now I know what I'm going to do with them!"
The photo on the right shows Eileen Lovett (my sister), Linda Lasco (Senior Editor at AQS), and me. We are standing in front of my quilt "Sawdust" at the MAQS. It was part of the contest: "Sawtooth: New Quilts from an Old Favorite" by Linda Lasco. Take a look at that beautiful book.
Meet me at the AQS Show in Paducah April 22, 2008
I'm hoping to meet many of you at the AQS Quilt Show this week. I will be there with my sister Eileen. We will be wearing our selvage vests, so we will be easy to spot! Meet me also at the Book Signing table.
We have been to this show many times, and we always have a wonderful time. The quilts are always mind-boggling and the vendors bring wares to inspire textile artists of every stripe. The whole town participates with banners that say "Welcome Quilters," and resturants feature "Quilter's Specials" etc. What a sparkling artist's date this is!
Can You Believe it? Selvage Socks! April 14, 2008
My dear friend Helen Wolf of Doylestown, PA made these for me to wear to the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah later this month. I have my selvage vest ready to go, and now I'm all set with matching socks! How does she think of these things?
She is also the one who got the idea to make a selvage vest for Mark Lipinski's little dog Tulip. Yes, she's one of those "movers and shakers." Go Helen!
"Quilts from the Selvage Edge" arrives! April 11, 2008
It's finally here! If you pre-ordered the book, you will be receiving it any day now. It has complete instructions for making thirteen beautiful selvage quilts, and all you need to start creating your own original designs. Are you wondering what a selvage quilt looks like after hand washing and machine washing/drying? See the before and after photos of a selvage quilt that I put to the test. Included are all the tips and tricks that I discovered along the way.
My favorite quilt is called "Remembering Silk Cigar Ribbon Quilts." It has beads, embroidery and even a crocheted edge! See how to make all the quilts pictured here on this website and more. You'll love Mark Lipinski's Foreword. There's even a pattern for the little apron that Tulip is wearing in her photo with Mark on the back cover!
Let me know what you think. And send me a photo of your quilts!
Newman Quilters Workshop March 15, 2008
The Newman Piecemakers of Rumford, RI got together on Saturday to make selvage pillows. And what a bunch of overachievers! After a quick demo, they were off and running, inventing their own designs and techniques. Meanwhile it snowed big flakes, adding to the cozy atmosphere inside. (So close to the ocean, you could smell the salt air!)
It was fun to see these quilters browse through each other's selvage stashes and give and take so much. Everyone did it, and the pillows were better off for it. Someone would say, "Oh, there's Sarah's challenge quilt selvage on Eileen's pillow," and so on.
After four hours, including time for visiting, and lunching on the local specialty of cold pizza sticks, everyone had a finished object of art. A good time was had by all!
(In this photo, I am standing on the far right, and my sister Eileen is seated in front of me wearing the red and black sweater.)
Saturday is National Quilting Day March 14, 2008
I hope you will be patriotic this weekend and spend Saturday enjoying some aspect of quilting. If you need an excuse, here it is! And if you live outside the US, please promote world harmony by joining your American sisters-in-quilting.
Did you know that National Quilting Day was started by Phyllis Miller of Paducah, KY? Quilt City, USA has a quilt museum and four quilt shops within walking distance. Paradise!
On Saturday I will lead a selvage quilt workshop in East Providence, Rhode Island. We are going to make some pillows like the ones in Workshop #1 on this site. I may add lots of embellishments to mine, buttons, beads, ribbons, and who knows what else!
This is a photo of one of my favorite quilts that I made in 2007. You thought I only made selvage quilts? This was a fundraiser quilt for the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA, where I used to live. The little building in the upper center is their logo. The quilt is made from silk dupioni and loaded with enbellishments, even a little clock that works!
Have fun on Saturday :)
This is a Selvage Rug! March 13, 2008
I was astonished to walk into Marigold Arts on Canyon Road in Santa Fe and see a stunning collection of colorful woven rugs made from selvages! What a serendipitous event that a selvage nut like me would just happen to walk in to this exhibit! This rug was hanging by the street and I was immediately drawn inside, stopping only long enough to take this photo.
These contemporary rag rugs are woven by local artist Sandy Voss. She uses selvages that she purchases by the pound from Pendleton Woolen Mills. They are leftovers from making those beautiful woolen blankets. My favorite is her Classic Happy Rug, a random and colorful design. I also love the Red Happy Rug (all reds). The small one, about 24" x 36," was priced at $330. I should have bought one. You can see her work at www.marigoldarts.com.
Navajo Rug by Bertha Tsosie March 12, 2008
My husband Jason and I bought this rug last week at the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site in Ganado, Arizona. Isn't it a beauty? It was made by Bertha Tsosie and it is called "Eyedazzler." It's a small rug, 19" x 36," and cost $340. They had piles and piles of rugs to choose from, priced up to about $6,000 for the largest (about 5' x 7'), most tightly woven and complex ones. I love the sharp points, the clean design, and the beautiful colors. Jason will hang it in his den.
If I was a Navajo, I would be a rug weaver, no question about it. At the Visitor's Center they had two vertical looms set up. One was for demonstrations by an expert weaver (who wasn't there that day-rats!) and the other one was available for curious textile lovers like me to play with. It was a slow day, so the man at the retail desk came over and showed me how to weave. It was so much fun.
Wouldn't it be great if there was a textile theme park where you could try fabric dyeing, weaving, spinning, jewlery making, lace making, molas, etc? I think we would blow a fuse!
Vacation in Santa Fe, New Mexico March 11, 2008
Last week my husband, two sons and I went on vacation in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado, the "Four Corners" region of the Southwest USA. One of my favorite stops was Santa Fe, one of the biggest art markets in the world. There is so much to see! Gallery after gallery! Including some textiles, I'm glad to say.
Take a look at this quilt. It was on display outdoors and I got permission to take a photo. The owner said that he designed it and had it made in India. It was priced at $225 (throw size). This quilt was pieced, embroidered, and then stone washed by hand. Tough on the hands, I would think! Covered with embroidered stars, this is an interesting crazy quilt!
Christmas in March! March 10, 2008
No, I'm not referring to the recent snowfall. Today I received an unexpected package full of beautiful, neatly cut and folded selvages! They are from my friend Dianne Springer of www.QuiltinaCup.com. She has been busy filling orders for her popular "Quilt in a Cup" kits, and cutting selvages for me! If you will be at the International Quillt Market in Portland, Oregon in May, look for Dianne. She has some new products on the way. I can't wait to see what she is up to.
The timing was perfect because I have big plans for new selvage quilts, and I want to make selvage-covered vests for my sister Eileen and me to wear at the AQS Show in Paducah in April. It's a good thing my sense of fashion doesn't interfere with my quilt show enthusiasm! (And Eileen is a good sport!)
Guess Who Wrote the Foreword
to Quilts from the Selvage Edge! February 28, 2008
I am so excited I can hardly stand it; Mark Lipinski of Quilter's Home magazine wrote the foreword for my new book which will be out in April! I got to read it this morning and I have been doing my happy dance all day. It's funny and interesting and full of energy - vintage Mark! It's worth getting the book just to read the Foreword!
He is finishing a book which will be published by C&T. If you read the magazine, you know that the book will be fantastic.
(Yes, Mark is hanging upside down on the May/June issue!)
Movie Recommendation February 27, 2008
Maybe it was Heather Bailey’s bangs or her lavish and colorful blog that I enjoyed yesterday (while winter drags on, cold and gray) that reminded me of one of my favorite movies, “Enchanted April.” In this movie, four Englishwomen take a month’s holiday at an Italian castle overlooking the ocean. It’s a drama with a wry sense of humor set in the 1920’s. You will not be disappointed. I don’t want to tell you too much, but if you want to know more visit: http://deseretnews.com/movies/view/1,1257,518,00.html.
Advice: If you usually watch movies with someone who thinks “The Bourne Identity” is a great movie, just watch this one by yourself (a great artist date) or with the girls. This movie is family friendly.
Online Artist Date February 26, 2008
Did you read the entry below about stocking our creativity ponds? Well here is an artist date that you can enjoy right this minute. Get a cup of tea, or some of that pink cocoa, and go to www.heatherbailey.typepad.com
If you are wondering where all the color in the world went this month, it can be found on this blog by fabric designer Heather Bailey (Free Spirit). I can’t wait to see what her next line of fabric looks like. Her photography is incredible and the colors will warm your heart. While you are there, check out her studio! This blog is delicious! (Photo by Heather Bailey)
Here is an excerpt from her blog:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?" –Nelson Mandela
Heather Bailey gets chills every time she reads this quote. If she could accomplish one thing, it would be to encourage women to discover their fabulousness and find joy in creative expression.
Got Selvages? February 25, 2008
If you haven’t harvested the selvages from your stash yet, I think you will be surprised how many you have! Okay, the selvages in this photo are not all from my stash. My quilting buddies have been very generous. (This pile is 2 feet high.)
My sister Eileen Lovett has an enviable stash, all “selvage-less,” of course! She made a charm quilt in 2000 with thousands of little triangles, so for a while every piece of my stash had a little triangular hole. Yes, it is wonderful to have a sister who is a quilter!
Low priority fabrics that you haven’t thought about in a while have perfectly good selvages! Your friends have a lot, too. Maybe you are lucky enough to know a quilt shop where they cut fabric for kits! Give selvage quilting a try. What do you have to lose? You were just going to throw them away anyway!
The Quilt Police haven’t established any rules of decency for selvage quilts, so you can’t commit any offenses!
Stocking Our Creativity Ponds February 22, 2008
In Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way, A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, she recommends that we treat ourselves to “artist dates.” These are periods of quality time that we spend by ourselves nurturing our creative inner artist. It is a play date where we might go for a walk, visit a museum, explore a junk store, ride the train, have a picnic at the beach, listen to unfamiliar music etc. It is restful and self-nourishing.
She compares our artistic resources to a fish pond that has big fish, little fish, fat fish, and skinny fish. Lots of variety. We have to maintain the ecosystem and not overfish the pond. Regular artist dates help to restock.
I recently took such an excursion in New York City. As I window-shopped along Fifth Avenue, I saw these high-heeled sneakers! Can you believe these shoes? Are they not the ugliest shoes you have ever seen in your life? Still they are imaginative and I thought you should see them!
I don’t know if this artist date stocked my creativity pond, but it certainly stirred up the water a little! Tell me how you restock and I’ll report your ideas here. Bye for now.
Really Seeing February 19, 2008
In my first job out of college I was a management trainee in a bank. One day I was using an office that was all white and had two bright red chairs facing the desk. Half way through the afternoon someone stopped by to say that they had borrowed the red chairs at lunchtime and would return them later. I hadn’t even noticed that they were missing! Since then I have had the nagging feeling that I’m not really noticing everything!
I started saving selvages about a year before figuring out what to do with them. Before that, I threw away miles of perfectly good selvages! I just didn’t “see” them as a useful resource in my quilting. It makes me want to go check my wastebasket to make sure there aren’t any other treasures in there by mistake!
In my hometown of Southbury, CT there is a road called “Poverty Road.” Ironically it’s in a very nice part of town. I recently noticed it as if for the first time and it made me chuckle, so I took a photo of it for you. Try to really see things this week that you may have been missing. I will too. |
